30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

Skillet Squash Blossom

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (1)

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Holiday meal planning is easy when you plan your menu around these festive 5-ingredient recipes. From succulent main dishes of turkey and ham to comforting sides of scalloped vegetables or mashed potatoes, you'll have a short shopping list for Thanksgiving this year if you choose these simple recipes.

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Cherry-Smoked Turkey on the Grill

Cherry-Smoked Turkey on the Grill

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (2)

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Lydia Pursell

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The time put into the cooking process of this turkey is what garners such a stellar flavor. The smokey char that the exterior gets from the grill gives it a golden color and an even better rustic flavor. This turkey truly shines as an alternative method for Thanksgiving fare.

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Herb-Roasted Carrots

Herb-Roasted Carrots

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (3)

Credit: Jennifer Causey

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A simple side of roasted carrots is the breather a crowded table needs--a bit of palate relief (and ease for the cook) that still looks elegant. Use leftover cilantro in turkey chili or tacos.

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Pure and Simple Cranberry Sauce

Pure and Simple Cranberry Sauce

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (4)

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Claire Spollen

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Nothing on your Thanksgiving menu is easier than cranberry sauce, whether you keep it classic or spice it up.

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Green Beans with Crisp Meyer Lemon Bread Crumbs

green-beans-crisp-meyer-lemon-bread-crumbs-su.jpg

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (5)

Credit: Greg DuPree

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Olive oil– and citrus-toasted crumbs make this Thanksgiving staple special.

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Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (6)

Credit: Victor Protasio

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Just whole buttermilk, butter, and crème fraîche make this dish wow-worthy.

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Skillet Squash Blossom

Skillet Squash Blossom

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (7)

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Kay E. Clarke

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The best part of this show-stopping dish is the caramelized edges.

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Balsamic Cranberry-Onion Jam

Balsamic Cranberry-Onion Jam

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (8)

Credit: Jennifer Causey

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This jam is an excellent, refined sugar-free alternative to the traditional, often too-sweet sauce, and tastes even better a day or two after it's made. Because fresh cranberries are so tart on their own, be sure to use a sweet onion such as Vidalia in the jam. Pair this condiment with your Thanksgiving plate, then use as a sandwich spread for holiday leftovers.

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Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Smoked Paprika-Honey Butter

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Smoked Paprika-Honey Butter

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (9)

Credit: Jennifer Causey

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Smoked paprika plays off the natural sweetness of the roasted sweet potatoes and gives the butter mixture a rich garnet color. Because of the sheer number of dishes available at Thanksgiving, we keep the serving size to a more modest one-half of a potato per person. You could also use small (4-oz.) sweet potatoes or cut the roasted potatoes crosswise into large pieces before drizzling with the butter mixture.

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Brussels Sprouts with Cornbread Croutons

Brussels Sprouts with Cornbread Croutons

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (10)

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Kay E. Clarke

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Toasty brown-butter croutons make simple roasted Brussels sprouts holiday worthy.

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Molasses-Glazed Turkey

Molasses-Glazed Turkey

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (11)

Credit: Luca Trovato

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Add sweet, tangy flavor to your holiday bird by brushing it with a mixture of molasses and Dijon mustard.

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Buttermilk-Parmesan Mashed Potatoes

Buttermilk-Parmesan Mashed Potatoes

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (12)

Credit: Ellen Silverman; Styling: Toni Brogan

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Transform mashed potatoes from plain to perfect with the addition of tangy buttermilk and sharp Parmesan cheese.

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Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream Fantasy

Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream Fantasy

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (13)

Credit: Oxmoor House

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This decadent ice cream dessert starts with a frozen pumpkin pie or a pie from your supermarket bakery. All you have to do is freeze it, break it into chunks, then combine with ice cream, caramel topping, and toasted pecans. You may never go back to plain pumpkin pie.

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Thanksgiving Punch

Thanksgiving Punch

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (14)

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Serve your holiday guests a festive fall drink made with pomegranate juice, pineapple juice and ginger ale.

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Sweet-and-Sour Green Beans

Sweet-and-Sour Green Beans

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (15)

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

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Instead of green bean casserole, go with a simpler dish featuring beans flavored with bacon, onion, sugar, and cider vinegar.

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Hurry-Up Homemade Crescent Rolls

Hurry-Up Homemade Crescent Rolls

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (16)

Credit: Beau Gustafson; Styling: Sissy Lamberton

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Add yeast to all-purpose baking mix and let the dough rise just once for these shortcut dinner rolls. You can make these up to two months ahead and store in the freezer.

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Pomegranate-Rosemary Royale

Pomegranate-Rosemary Royale

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (17)

Credit: Ellen Silverman; Styling: Toni Brogan

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This simple twist on the traditional kir royale blends tart-sweet pomegranate juice with subtle herbal notes from a rosemary-infused syrup.

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Thanksgiving Salad

Thanksgiving Salad

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (18)

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Use your Thanksgiving leftovers to make a hearty salad. Cut cornbread dressing into cubes and toast for croutons, and top mixed greens with leftover turkey and cranberry sauce.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Apples

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Apples

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (19)

Credit: Ellen Silverman; Styling: Toni Brogan

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Add amazing flavor to Brussels sprouts by combining them with sweet-tart apples and roasting them for about 25 minutes or until they are tender and mellow.

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Glazed Carrots with Pecans

Glazed Carrots with Pecans

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (20)

Credit: James Baigrie; Styling: Randy Mon

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Make the most of the natural sweetness of carrots by cooking them in a skillet with brown sugar and minced fresh ginger, and add just the right crunch with toasted pecan halves.

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Whipped Maple Sweet Potatoes

Whipped Maple Sweet Potatoes

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (21)

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For a quick and easy alternative to sweet potato casserole, stir maple syrup and butter into mashed sweet potatoes and top with toasted pecans.

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Sweet-Potato Gratin

Sweet-Potato Gratin

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (22)

Credit: Ray Kachatorian

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Layer sliced sweet potato in a baking dish and bake in a mixture of whipping cream and Parmesan cheese for a luxurious variation of a sweet potato casserole.

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Fresh Cranberry-Orange Relish

Fresh Cranberry-Orange Relish

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (23)

Credit: Ellen Silverman; Styling: Toni Brogan

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No Thanksgiving meal is complete without the cranberry relish, and this easy one will help streamline your holiday meal preparation because you can make it up to 3 days ahead.

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Roast Peppered Cornish Hens

Roast Peppered Cornish Hens

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (24)

Credit: Beau Gustafson; Styling: Cindy Barr

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For a small holiday gathering, hens offer a smart-sized option in lieu of a large turkey. Mustard, jelly, and black pepper combine for a simple glaze.

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Sunset's Best Easy Gravy

Sunset's Best Easy Gravy

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (25)

Credit: Annabelle Breakey

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Once you've cooked the turkey, just add broth or stock, flour, cornstarch, salt and pepper to the drippings and make a rich and creamy gravy to serve with the big meal.

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Simple Baked Ham

Simple Baked Ham

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (26)

Credit: Randy Mayor

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If you want to break outside of the turkey routine this year, consider a simple ham that's flavored with cloves, apple juice, brown sugar and mustard. And, like turkey, there are a number of ways you can use up leftover ham.

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Flaky Dinner Rolls

Flaky Dinner Rolls

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (27)

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These superlative rolls derive their texture and beautiful shape from employing a simple folding technique twice and allowing them to rise just once.

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Sweet Potato Pie Ice Cream

Sweet Potato Pie Ice Cream

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (28)

Credit: Karry Hosford

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Deconstruct a sweet potato pie and turn it into a frozen dessert by simply folding mashed sweet potatoes and baked pastry crust dough into vanilla ice cream. Simply amazing.

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Pork Tenderloin in Phyllo

Pork Tenderloin in Phyllo

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (29)

Credit: BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER; MELANIE J. CLARKE

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Wrap seasoned pork tenderloin in phyllo dough, bake, and top with mango chutney for an impressive 5-ingredient meal.

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Bacon-Wrapped Figs

Bacon-Wrapped Figs

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (30)

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

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Stuff figs with soft goat cheese and pecan halves, and then wrap in bacon for a savory-sweet appetizer.

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Browned Butter-Pecan Shortbread

Browned Butter-Pecan Shortbread

30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (31)

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These "not-too-sweet" wafers pair nicely with fruits, cheeses and wines for a cocktail buffet party.

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30 Five-Ingredient Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are 5 traditional Thanksgiving foods? ›

The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie. But the way these dishes are made or added to is everchanging because of food trends and different dietary requirements.

What every Thanksgiving dinner should have? ›

But a few things are guaranteed, no matter where I am or who I'm with: There will be turkey; there will be stuffing; there will be cranberry sauce, gravy, potatoes, and pie.

What is the key ingredient to a perfect Thanksgiving Day dinner? ›

Whether you're drizzling it over your roast turkey, mashed potatoes, or flaky biscuits, homemade gravy is an absolute must-have during the holidays. Since it's such a staple, it's gotta be perfect—THIS is the recipe you need.

How many dishes to make for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

How many dishes should I serve with the turkey? For 4 people, choose 1-2 appetizers and 3 sides. For 8 people, choose 1-3 appetizers and 3 sides. For 16 people, choose 2-3 appetizers and 3 or more sides.

What are the 12 most popular Thanksgiving dishes? ›

Scroll through to take a look at our most popular Thanksgiving recipes.
  • 01 of 24. Perfect Turkey. ...
  • 02 of 24. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 03 of 24. Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • 04 of 24. Homemade Mac and Cheese. ...
  • 05 of 24. Sweet Potato Pie. ...
  • 06 of 24. Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll. ...
  • 07 of 24. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast. ...
  • 08 of 24. Cream Corn Like No Other.
Oct 26, 2023

What are the 5 most common sides served on Thanksgiving Day? ›

First things first: If you're going for the most quintessential Thanksgiving, you've got to have the classics. We're talking stuffing, sweet potato casserole, gravy, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce

How do you simplify Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Tips To Simplify Thanksgiving Entertaining
  1. Pick the menu early. Don't leave menu planning and shopping to the last minute. ...
  2. Brine your bird. Turkey is the centerpiece of the feast, so give it every opportunity to shine. ...
  3. Start prep work a few days before Thanksgiving. ...
  4. Serve batched cocktails. ...
  5. Create simple centerpieces.
Nov 1, 2023

How can I make Thanksgiving more special? ›

Write down what you're thankful for.

In all the fun and frenzy, it can be easy to forget the true meaning of Thanksgiving: gratitude. Dole out black Sharpies and, before digging in, invite each guest to write what they're thankful for on a butcher paper cloth laid over the table.

What is in a Thanksgiving dinner checklist? ›

Thanksgiving Menu
  • Turkey. Gravy. Stuffing.
  • Green bean casserole.
  • Salad.
  • Mashed potatoes.
  • Sweet potatoes.
  • Rolls and other breads.
  • Pumpkin pie.
Nov 21, 2022

What is the main meal for most Americans on Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey is the most common main dish of a Thanksgiving dinner, to the point that Thanksgiving is sometimes colloquially called "Turkey Day." Alexander Hamilton proclaimed that "no citizen of the United States should refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day", and Benjamin Franklin had high regard for the wild turkey as an ...

What do most people eat for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

An American Feast - Foods that Make Up an American Thanksgiving...
  • Turkey. Just as it's a traditional meat used for Christmas dinner, turkey is favoured because it's big – and that means it can feed a whole family. ...
  • Cranberry sauce. ...
  • Vegetables. ...
  • Marshmallow sweet potatoes. ...
  • Pumpkin pie. ...
  • Pecan pie.

Why is Thanksgiving dinner at 3? ›

There are many reasons, but primarily: Historically, dinner became before supper; it makes for a more relaxed day; it's simply tradition; it's more convenient for traveling guests; and, of course, to watch football.

What are the 3 traditional foods Americans eat during Thanksgiving? ›

Millions of people across the United States will sit down to a traditional Thanksgiving meal, including turkey, potatoes, squash, corn, and cranberries. These foods have become synonymous with Thanksgiving, but how did they end up on tables from Maine to California?

What are 4 commonly consumed foods at Thanksgiving other than turkey? ›

Cornish game hen, goose, duck, ham, beef, salmon, and mushroom recipes make worthy centerpieces for holiday meals.

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